Forty Under 40: Kelly Tribell

Kelly Tribell, 39, got into the mortgage business in 1998 because he was looking for something more interesting than traditional banking.

He graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1993 with a degree in marketing management, but after working for several years in the banking industry, he started
Meridian Mortgage out of his home with very little start-up capital.

Tribell helps clients find the best loan program to buy a home or finance a mortgage. One of his biggest accomplishments is staying in business through the economic downturn, he said.

“Being able to stick around is one of the main things that makes me feel proud of what I’ve done,” he said.

Flexibility to expand or contract the business fairly easily, Tribell said, is the key to staying afloat.

“It’s one of the best things about the business,” he said.

Tribell said his goal is to eventually grow the business to operate more regionally.

“I still want to be a local business,” he said. “But I’d like to continue to grow outside my social network.”

Tribell is motivated by the fact that he can help people accomplish their goals, such as buying their first home.

“It’s a people business and I enjoy helping people,” he said.

He also enjoys getting out of the office and participating in outdoor activities, such as running and biking, when he gets a chance.